FOLK LORE.
Lancashire May-day Custom.—On the 1st of May, the following custom is observed in some parts of Lancashire, though now very nearly obsolete.
Late on the preceding night, or early on that morning, small branches of trees are placed at the doors of houses in which reside any marriageable girls. They are emblematical of the character of the maidens, and have a well understood language of their own, which is rhythmical. Some speak flatteringly, others quite the reverse: the latter being used when the character of the person for whom it is intended is not quite "above suspicion."
A malicious rustic wag may sometimes put a branch of the latter description where it is not deserved, but I believe this is an exception.
I only remember a few of the various trees which are laid under contribution for this purpose. The following will illustrate what I am writing about. I must premise that wicken is the local name for mountain ash:
Wicken, sweet chicken.
Oak, for a joke.
Ash, trash.
Gorse in bloom—rhymes with at noon,
(I omit the epithet given here, as commonly, to an unchaste woman), and is used for a notorious delinquent.
A. B.
Liverpool.
Hair cut off, an Antidote.—A few days ago I observed my old servant thrusting something into the ear of one of my cows. Upon inquiry, I was informed that it was hair cut off the calf's tail, the said calf having been taken away from the cow on the previous morning: the butcher cut it off, for the above purpose, "to make her forget the calf." I half resolved on sending this account to "N. & Q.," but I hesitated, under the idea that it would perhaps hardly be worth the while. But this afternoon my eye caught the following scrap in a newspaper just published:
"At Oldham, last week, a woman summoned the owner of a dog that had bitten her. She said that she should not have adopted this course had the owner of the animal given her some of its hair, to ensure her against any evil consequences following the bite."
There is so much similarity in the two cases, that I now would ask whether your readers can throw any light on the subject?
Bœoticus.
Edgmond, Salop.
Weather Prophecy—The Oak Tree and the Ash (Vol. v., p. 534.).—When the oak comes out before the ash, there will be fine weather in harvest. I have remarked this for several years, and find it generally correct, as far as such things can be.
Bosquecillo Viego.